The department says it believes it would be ill-advised to revoke the family’s naturalisation in view of ongoing investigations against him and possible prosecutions.

It’s understood Gigaba received the advice from Advocate Nazeer Cassim in May but decided not to act on it, saying it was not of national interest to do so before law enforcement agencies concluded their work.

Home Affairs spokesperson Thabo Mokgola says: “Were the minister to act contrary to how he has, the people who are publicly agitating for the department to revoke the Gupta family citizenship and permanent residence would in all likelihood accuse the minister of complicating matters.”